Hong Kong Customs today (March 18) seized about 10.2 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $28 million and a duty potential of about $19 million at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound.
Through risk assessment, Customs officers selected a seaborne transshipment container from Cambodia heading for the Philippines via Hong Kong for inspection. The shipment manifest declared that it was a stationery consignment. Upon inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes in the container.
Investigation is ongoing.
Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Ends/Wednesday, March 18, 2020
